Duct distributor switch



Filed March 19, 1964 INVENTOR. EVERETT A. HILLIARD ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,253,863 DUCT DISTRIBUTOR SWITCH Everett A. Hilliard, Lowell, Mass., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Riggs & Lombard, Inc., Lowell, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Mar. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 353,048 3 Claims. (CL 302-28) This invention relates to an improved distributor switch for use in fluid conveyor systems. It is especially designed to prevent the stapling, or other accumulation, of fibres or the like, on the leading edge, or in clearance spaces around, the switch plate of such switches.

In the textile art, it has long been customary to conveynatural or synthetic fibres around a mill by means of pressurized air, or suction, in ducts and distributor switches have been provided to close off supply to one machine while opening supply to another. However, as far as I am aware, it has been the custom to turn the switch plate of conventional switches so that an edge travels across the inlet port, thereby causing fibres to staple on the edge. The fibres so accumulated on the edge then prevent the switch plate from firmly closing on its seats. In suction systems, there has also been the disadvantage that when one subsidiary conduit is suddenly closed off and another opened, the closed conduit sometimescollapses due to the reduction of air pressure thereon as the contents empty out.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a duct distributor switch in which the switch plate comprises a pair of aligned, closure faces each traveling across one of the outlet ports but both prevented from presenting an edge to the infiuent flow of material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a low cost, rugged distributor switch for fiuid conveyor systems in which the switch plate presents no edges to the oncoming material when performing the switching operation and in which there are no clearance spaces above or below the switch plate in which oncoming material may accumulate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a duct distributor switch with a housing having an inlet port and a closable aperture in opposite quadrants around the switch plate axis and with outlet ports in the other two opposite quadrants around the axis, the closable aperture connecting a closed outlet port to the atmosphere to relieve suction and prevent internal collapse of the conduits.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the claims, the description of the drawing and from the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the duct distributor switch of the invention, in section on line 1-1 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof in section on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with the detachable closure in place, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the switch plate, pivot rod and semi-circular upper and lower guides.

As shown in FIG. 1, the duct distributor switch 20 of the invention includes a bifurcated housing 21 which is preferably of sheet metal and which is shown in plan and so described. However, it will be understood that the switch can be horizontally or vertically positioned in a horizontal or vertical line and that the references hereinafter to upper and lower parts, vertical axes, etc. are all intended to describe the structure when horizontal in a horizontal line as shown in the drawing.

The bifurcated housing 21 includes a central switch chamber 22, having the flat, parallel upper wall 23 and lower wall 24 and occupying the crotch portion 25 of the housing. A vertical pivot axis 26 in chamber 22 is defined by a pair of oppositely disposed pivot rod holes 27 and 28, each in the upper Wall 23 or in the lower wall 24. The pivot axis 26 is surrounded by an angular space of 360 which for convenience of description is divided into first, second, third and fourth angular spaces of 90 each, illustrated by a dotted line in FIG. 1 and designated 31, 32, 33 and 34 respectively.

Switch 20 includes the main influent conduit 35, having an inlet port 36 entering the switch chamber 22 in the second 90 angular space 32 and a pair of subsidiary, eflluent conduits 37 and 38. The outlet port 39 of effluent conduit 37 is in the first 90 angular space 31 and the outlet port 40 of effluent conduit 38 is in the third 90 angular space 33. The housing 21 includes the aperture, or relief port opening, 42 in the fourth 90 angular space, or quadrant, 34 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter..

A switch plate 43 is mounted to turn in a horizontal .plane in switch chamber 22 on the vertical pivot axis 26.

Plate 43 is preferably fiat and rectilinear and fixed to pivot means 44, in the form of a pivot rod 45, journalled in the holes 27 and 28. The rod 45 is fixed, as by welding, or bolts, along the rear vertical centre line of plate 43 so that the plate is .divided into a pair of equal faces 46 and 47 each on an opposite side of the pivot and each capable of closing one of the outlet ports 39 or 40.

The rod 45 of pivot means 44 extends outside housing 21, and is right angularly bent at 50 to form the handle 51. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 collars 52 and 53, having set screws 54 and 55, are provided on rod 45. A third collar 56 is connected by the coil spring 57 to the bracket 53 which is pivoted at 59 to upper wall 23 of housing 21. The handle 51, rod 45 and switch plate 43 are thus accelerated into terminal position at each opposite end of their path and held in such terminal position by the spring 57.

- Stop means 61 is provided Within housing 21 to limit the arcuate paths of the side edges 62 and 63 of switch plate 43 to their respective 90 angular spaces in chamber 22 thereby permitting the edges to sweep across the outlet ports but preventing the side edges from sweeping across the inlet port. Preferably stop means 61 comprises a pair of inwardly projecting shoulders 64 and 65 each integral with, and offset from the material of housing 21 and extending along one of the opposite sides of inlet port 36.-

Each shoulder 64 or 65 includes a flat face 66 or 67, angularly disposed to tightly, and exactly, flatwise engage the corresponding portions of the side edges 62 and 63 of switch plate 43 and thereby to seal the outlet ports. Means 61 also includes a pair of outwardly projecting shoulders, or flanges, 68 and 69, each in the path of the side edge portions of plate 43 and each extending along the inside ofvone of the outlet ports 39 or 402 Each shoulder 68 or 69 also includes a fiat face 71 or 72, angularly disposed to form a flat seal with the corresponding portion of plate 43.

A detachable closure plate 73 'is provided for closing aperture 42, when desirable, the plate being attachable by suitable bolts 74 and shown in position in FIG. 3. This constitutes a throat by-pass which functions as follows when the aperture 42 is open and the closure plate 73 removed. When the fluid flow shown by the arrows in FIG. 1 is under positive pressure and passing through one eflluent conduit such as conduit 38, and the switch plate 43 is turned to guide material into the other effluent conduit 37, the long line of conveying fluid and material still in the line connected to conduit 38 and'still advancing to the machine being supplied thereby tends to create a vacuum in rear of the switch plate which can collapse the sheet metal ducts. The aperture 42, which is directly opposite inlet port 36, in the fourth 90 angular space, is in rear of the switch plate 43 and instantaneously opens the closed-off line 38 to the atmosphere thus serving as an automatic pressure relief port. If the fluid flow is under negative air pressure the aperture 42 functions as a make-up air port to maintain constant air flow in both legs of the bifurcated housing 21 regardless of switch plate position.

The duct distributor switch 20 not only prevents stapling of fibres on the edges of the switch plate 43, by confining turning thereof to the outlet port quadrants but also prevents the accumulation of material in open crevices, for example in the clearance spaces between the top and bottom edges of the plate 43 and the upper and lower walls of the housing 21. Switch plate 43 includes an upper, integral guide 76 and a lower, integral, guide 77, each of semi-circular outline, each extending toward the inlet port 36 and each having a forward edge 78 or 79. The housing 21 includes an upper flange 81 extending across the upper inside wall of inlet port 36 and a lower flange 82 extending across the lower inside wall of port 36, each flange covering the forward edge 78 or 79 of the adjacent semi-circular guide while permitting the guide to rotate. Thus the upper and lower corners 84 and 85 of switch plate 43 are closed, to prevent material seeping thereby, and material cannot seep under the semi-circular guides because of the covering flanges 81 and 82.

It will thus be seen that the switch plate 43 cannot revolve past the inlet port, positively seals against the offset shoulders of the housing, has no clearance spaces open to oncoming material inthe fluid flow and being centrally pivoted, balances air flow resistances to its movement for shock proof turning. In addition, it should be noted that the face of the plate 43 which is closing an outlet port moves in the direction of the inlet port against the direction of flow, while the face of the plate 43 which is opening an outlet port moves away from the inlet port in the direction of flow.

I claim: I

1. A duct distributor switch for fluid conveyor systems, said switch comprising:

a bifurcated housing having a centrally disposed switching chamber with parallel upper and lower walls, said chamber having a vertical axis with an angular space of at least 270 therearound, said space being formed by first, second and third juxtaposed, substantially coextensive, angular spaces of 90 each; i

a main influent conduit at one end of said houslng, having an inlet port into said chamber in the second said 90 angular space;

a pair of subsidiary, eflluent conduits at the other end of said housing, each having an outlet port in the first or third said 90 angular space;

a flat, upstanding, switch plate mounted to turn in a horizontal plane on the said vertical axis within said chamber, said plate extending between said parallel upper and lower walls and having a pair of identical faces, each extending horizontally on an opposite side of said axis and adaptedto close one of said outlet ports;

pivot means, connected to said plate, and extending outside said housing, for turning one of said faces in the direction of flow to open the adjacent outlet port while simultaneously turning the other said face in a direction opposite to flow to close the adjacent outlet port;

a detachable closure in a fourth 90 angular space around said vertical axis located between said outlet conduits and in rear of said switch plate;

means for removing said closure for connecting the portion of said chamber in rear of said switch plate to the atmosphere;

and stop means within said housing in the path of said plate for confining the angle of turn of said plate to the said first and third 90 angular spaces;

whereby the upstanding edges of said plate cannot be turned through said second 90 angular space to cause stapling thereon of material flowing through said distributor switch.

2. A duct distributor switch for fluid conveyor systems,

said switch comprising:

a bifurcated housing having a centrally disposed switching chamber with parallel upper and lower walls, said chamber having a vertical axis with an angular space of at least 270 therearound, said space being formed by first, second and third juxtaposed, substantially oo-extensive, angular spaces of 90 each.

a main influent conduit at one end of said housing, having an inlet port into said chamber in the second said 90 angular space;

a pair of subsidiary, efiluent conduits at the other end of said housing, each having an outlet port in the first or third said 90 angular space;

a flat, upstanding, switch plate mounted to turn in a horizontal plane on the said vertical axis within said chamber, said plate extending between said parallel upper and lower Walls and having a pair of identical faces, each extending horizontally on an opposite side of said axis and adapted to close one of said outlet ports;

pivot means, connected to said plate, and extending outside said housing, for turning one of said faces in the direction of flow to open the adjacent outlet port while simultaneously turning the other said face in a direction opposite to flow to close the adjacent outlet port;

stop means within said housing in the path of said plate for confining the angle of turn of said plate to the said first and third 90 angular spaces;

horizontal upperand lower guides integral with said switch plate, each of semi-circular outline and projecting forwardly from said plate toward said inlet port;

and upper and lower flanges, each fixed to the upper and lower walls of said chamber to cover the forward edge of the adjacent guide across said inlet port;

whereby the forward edge of said guides are protected by said flanges from stapling of material thereon and said guides protect said switch plate from accumulating material in the clearance space between said plate and the upper and lower walls of said housing.

3. A duct distributor switch for fluid conveyor systems, said switch comprising:

a bifurcated housing having an inlet port, a switching chamber in the crotch thereof and a pair of outlet ports;

a switch plate mounted in said chamber to turn in a horizontal plane on a vertical axis, said plate having a pair of identical faces, each on an opposite side of said axis and each adapted to close one of said outlet ports;

pivot means on said housing and extending along said axis, for turning said plate therearound;

stop means within said housing, said means being mounted in the path of turning of said plate to permit the opposite side edges thereof to turn across 5 6 said outlet ports for opening one thereof while clos- References Cited by the Examiner ing the other but to prevent said edges from turn- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing across said inlet port; i upper and lower semi-circular guides projecting for- 2,329,898 9/1943 Henmng 74 97 wardly from said plate, the forward edges thereof 5 FOREIGN PATENTS terminating at said inlet port, and 180 138 1/1907 Germany upper and lower flanges projecting rearwardly from the upper and lower walls of said housing at said 453557 12/1927 Germany inlet port, each said flange covering the forward SAMUELF COLEMAN Primary Examiner edge of the adjacent semi-circular guide to prevent 10 stapling thereon. ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Exammer. 

1. A DUCT DISTRIBUTOR SWITCH FOR FLUID CONVEYOR SYSTEMS, SAID SWITCH COMPRISING: A BIFURCATED HOUSING HAVING A CENTRALLY DISPOSED SWITCHING CHAMBER WITH A PARALLEL UPPER AND LOWER WALLS, SAID CHAMBER HAVING A VERTICAL AXIS WITH AN ANGULAR SPACE OF AT LEAST 270* THEREAROUND, SAID SPACE BEING FORMED BY FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD JUXTAPOSED, SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE, ANGULAR SPACES OF 90* EACH; A MAIN INFLUENT CONDUIT AT ONE END OF SAID HOUSING, HAVING AN INLET PORT INTO SAID CHAMBER IN THE SECOND SAID 90* ANGULAR SPACE; A PAIR OF SUBSIDIARY, EFFLUENT CONDUITS AT THE OTHER END OF SAID HOUSING, EACH HAVING AN OUTLET PORT IN THE FIRST OR THIRD SAID 90* ANGULAR SPACE; A FLAT, UPSTANDING, SWITCH PLATE MOUNTED TO TURN IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE ON THE SAID VERTICAL AXIS WITHIN SAID CHAMBER, SAID PLATE EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID PARALLEL UPPER AND LOWER WALLS AND HAVING A PAIR OF IDENTICAL FACES, EACH EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY ON AN OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID AXIS AND ADAPTED TO CLOSE ONE OF SAID OUTLET PORTS; PIVOT MEANS, CONNECTED TO SAID PLATE, AND EXTENDING OUTSIDE SAID HOUSING, FOR TURNING ONE OF SAID FACES IN THE DIRECTION OF FLOW TO OPEN THE ADJACENT OUTLET PORT WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY TURNING THE OTHER SAID FACE IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO FLOW TO CLOSE THE ADJACENT OUTLET PORT; A DETACHABLE CLOSURE IN A FOURTH 90* ANGULAR SPACE AROUND SAID VERTICAL AXIS LOCATED BETWEEN SAID OUTLET CONDUITS AND IN REAR OF SAID SWITCH PLATE; MEANS FOR REMOVING SAID CLOSURE FOR CONNECTING THE PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER IN REAR OF SAID SWITCH PLATE TO THE ATMOSPHERE; AND STOP MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING IN THE PATH OF SAID PLATE FOR CONFINING THE ANGLE OF TURN OF SAID PLATE TO THE SAID FIRST AND THIRD 90* ANGULAR SPACES; WHEREBY THE UPSTANDING EDGES OF SAID PLATE CANNOT BE TURNED THROUGH SAID SECOND 90* ANGULAR SPACE TO CAUSE STAPLING THEREON OF MATERIAL FLOWING THROUGH SAID DISTRIBUTOR SWITCH. 